By Tim Leeds
With school elections to be held Tuesday, May 2, there is a variety of issues to consider in the different districts.
At the Havre schools, there are three three-year trustee positions to be voted on. Incumbents Judy Bricker and Jay Springer and challenger Dave Milam are running for two elementary trustee positions, and incumbent Aileen Couch is running unopposed for her outlying district high school trustee position. There is a high school mill levy increase proposed for operation and maintenance of the school, which would increase local property taxes by $165,438, approximately 8.08 mills. There is an increase in the elementary building reserve proposed, which will be used to replace the heating and ventilation system at Sunnyside Elementary School. The reserve would be raised by $25,000 a year to $150,000
At the Davey Elementary School, there is a general fund mill levy increase proposed. The mill levy would increase local property taxes by $7,707.70, approximately 26.14 mills.
At the KG (Kremlin Gildford) schools, incumbent Mitzi Dees is running unopposed for her current trustee position. There is an elementary mill levy increase proposed, which would increase local property taxes by $24,680.22, approximately 5.01 mills. There is a high school mill levy increase proposed, which would increase local property taxes by $1,981.21, approximately 0.37 mills.
At the Blue Sky schools (Hingam Rudyard), Darrold Hutchinson and Todd Langel are running for the trustee position vacated when incumbent Mark Warren chose not to run for re-election. No mill levy increases are proposed.
At the J-I (Joplin Inverness) schools, Tom Bangs is running unopposed for a trustee position. There is a K-12 special levy proposed, which will increase property taxes by $274,651, approximately 76.28 mills.
At the Chester schools, Christi Lakey is running unopposed for her trustee position. There is an elementary mill levy increase proposed for general maintenance and operation that would increase local property taxes by $50,000, approximately 8.31 mills.
At the Chinook schools, Kraig Hansen, Liz Lybeck and Ralph E. Page are running for a vacant position on the high school/elementary board. Incumbent Mark Billmayer and Bim Strauser are running for the position to represent Zurich on the high school board, and Ian Davies is running unopposed to represent Lloyd on the high school board. There is a mill levy increase proposed for the elementary school bus transportation fund for operation and maintenance which would increase local property taxes by $15,644, approximately 4 mills. There is a high school general fund mill levy increase proposed that would increase local property taxes by $43,215.16, approximately 5.397 mills. There is a mill levy increase proposed for the high school bus transportation and bus depreciation fund proposed that would increase local property taxes by $30,375, approximately 3.794 mills.
At the Zurich school, incumbent Frank B. Overcast is running unopposed for his trustee position. There is a mill levy increase proposed for repair, maintenance and general operation that would increase local property taxes by $10,806.93, approximately 6 mills.
At the Cleveland/Lone Tree Bench school two incumbents are running unopposed for their positions. Walter Bold is running for a three-year position and Doug Henke is running for a two-year position. There are no mill levy increases proposed.
At the Lloyd school, incumbent Connie Copenhaver is running unopposed for her position. There are no mill levy increases proposed.
At the Box Elder schools, five candidates are running for two trustee positions. Incumbents Joe Rosette, Jr. and Jean Butler are running against challengers Barb Friede, Tim Koop and Melody Henry.
At the Big Sandy schools, incumbent Ronald A. Pearson and Thad J. Willis are running for a trustee position. Incumbent Laura L. Boyce is running unopposed to represent Warrick and Loma on the board. There is a general mill levy increase for the elementary school proposed that would raise local property taxes by $47,646.14, approximately 7 mills. There is a general mill levy increase for the high school proposed that would raise local property taxes by $6,964.64, approximately 0.9 mills. There is a bus department levy increase proposed for the elementary school and for the high school. The elementary increase would raise local property taxes by $11,616.35, approximately 1.68 mills. The high school increase would raise local property taxes by $11,616.35, approximately 1.51 mills. There are transportation levy increases proposed to pay for buying an additional bus to take over a new route. The elementary levy would raise local property taxes by $10,207, approximately 1.5 mills. The high school levy would raise local property taxes by $11,500, approximately 1.5 mills.
Information about the Cottonwood District elections was not available this morning.
